Cajon Pass Triple-Tracking Updates (Plus Barstow-Daggett)

[Warren Smith]

Great photos.  Nice to see the progression.  Reminiscent of the Santa Fe line relocation.

The tunnel work looks to be slow and potentially dangerous.  Be pretty bad if they accidentally collapse it

Is the plan to day light both?  Then double track through the day lighted tunnels?  Sorry if this was explained earlier. 

Matt:

Yep - both tunnels will be daylighted.  Grading operations on tunnel #2 are nearly at the point where the methodology will be modified.

Once the dirt is brought down to finish grade, a 4000' shoofly will be placed around the tunnels.  Trains will not be rerouted until the third mainline is brought down from Summit and up from Keenbrook.  Then the tubes will be removed and the new track laid.

Warren

[Modelcar]

....Really great photos Warren.  Interesting work around the tunnels.

[Paul_D_North_Jr]

A clarification, and a few questions:

 

First, the "SoCalRailfan" link that "daniel3197"  provided below isn't for Cajon Pass area - instead, it is for the UP's (former SP) line from Colton north to Bakersfield.

Additionally, the link to the - yes, EXCELLENT and INFORMATIVE - map set for the Cajon Pass area is:

http://www.socalrailfan.com/subdivisions/bnsf_cajon_sub.html#overview

 

Next, the questions: 

Is the UP contributing anything to the triple-tracking project ?

If so, how much - in either $ or % ?

Then, in return is UP getting any additional specific rights on either the new 3rd track, and/ or either of the existing 2 tracks ?  What rights would those be ?

 

But if UP is NOT contributing to this project, will UP get any benefit from it ?  Could BNSF exclude UP from the benefits, such as by limiting UP's usage to the previous 2 tracks only whenever they're available, and reserving the 3rd track for BNSF's sole and exclusive use ?

I'm sure there are other similar questions, and others who are more familiar with the intricacies of operations in this area -"wrong-side" mains, the flyovers and crossover junctions, etc., could think of many more and variations, etc. 

In the end, if UP isn't contributing, and still isn't precluded from the operating benefits in some way, then where's any incentive for UP to contribute ?  Better to lay back and let BNSF do all the work ?  There must be a mechanism or arrangement of some kind in place under the master trackage rights agreement in place here to keep that from happening - anybody know what it is, and how that works ? 

Just wondering.  Thanks for any insights thatn anyone can provide.

 

- Paul D. North, Jr.

 

[K. P. Harrier]

Warren:

Please explain the bottom photo of your last post above.  Is the train on the present (old) Track #2 at Silverwood?  You captured a radical, unorthodox view of Cajon railroading.  Great shot!

K.P.

K.P.

As I mentioned, the shot was taken by Dave Toussaint.  It is a great image taken from above the U.P. tracks looking easterly down the connector.  The stack train is heading down current mainline #2, as mainline #1 is shut down for the switch work ...

I will post some of my own update photos shortly.  Just got back in, and the Santa Ana winds are kicking in pretty good.  A few overturned big rigs - Interstate 15 is now closed through Cajon Pass (but the trains are running just fine)  ...

Warren

Warren:

Whoops.  That is what I get for getting so mesmerized by Toussaint's photo that I didn't read the whole post!.

 I enjoyed the pictures you posted later too.

 Its great we have this forum to share photos.  I haven't been to the pass since last month, and am surprised at the swiftness of the progress.

 K. P.

[Warren Smith]

Some update shots at the tunnels.  The levels are coming down methodically.  The stabilized slope needs a platform which the work is done - from the top down.

 

Here I am on top of tunnel #2:

 

This is the alignment of the future mainline at bridge 61.5X:

 

And the pier columns are coming up at bridge 64.1X:

 

Warren Smith

[Modelcar]

.....What a great group of new photos Warren.  Beautiful clear and discriptive photos showing very clearly what is being done and the progress of it.

That first pic. with the layers of mountain ranges in the background is something else.

Unbelievable amount of ground being moved to daylight the tunnels.  No wonder they dug the bore in place of removing the cover when that line was put through there originally.

Such beautiful blue sky and sunshine sure indicates the good weather at this time of the year for such construction. 

Appreciate the photo update.

[canazar]

Incredible thread.  Thank you for posting all this.  Very, very informative.

[Warren Smith]

Had some rain through the Pass on Friday - snow on the peaks - but mud down below

Here are some shots of the "tunnel with a skylight" ...

The tunnel walls come up to locomotive height, and the double-stacks just clear the portals ...

We are monitoring tunnel 1 with eight prisms mounted near the arch on each side.  You can see the front two as orange discs.  Rob Greve is making today's measurements ...

BNSF's SoCal Employee's Christmas train heads through the tunnels ...

The bridge deck at 61.5X is in place ...

And pier caps are formed at bridge 64.1X ...

Here is the retaining wall at MP 62.5X.  Cajon Creek is in the foregound with existing mainline 2.  UP's tracks are just above existing M.L. 1 ...

The Christmas trains heads past Blue Cut with Santa on the point ...

Warren

[Modelcar]

....Awesome, awesome photos...!!  Greatly appreciated Warren.

[jeaton]

Warren

Great photos!  It is fun to see the work progressing.

Question.  The first picture of the employee special shows the cut above the tunnel covered in a bluish material.  Is it concrete?  Other material?

Jay

[Warren Smith]

Warren

Great photos!  It is fun to see the work progressing.

Question.  The first picture of the employee special shows the cut above the tunnel covered in a bluish material.  Is it concrete?  Other material?

Jay

Jay:

The material on the face of the cut slope above the tunnels is shotcrete over woven wire mesh, supported by soil nails driven into the embankment.  The differing colors are from successive applications from top to bottom - cure time ...

Here's a close up ...

 

Warren

[Anonymous]

I wont recognize the place today.

Very good photos!

[Warren Smith]

The cut slope at tunnel 2 is down to track level, so more sidewall is gone.  Here's a UP crew member at the door taking photos ...

Snow on the hilltops, framed by the portals ...

Here's UP and a BNSF stack train heading up the hill together ...

Work continues on tunnel 1 ...

The new track is down from Summit to the tunnels ...

Here is some retaining wall South of Hwy. 138.  The maintenance road is below the wall for this stretch ...

Sullivan's Curve and the trackbed North is wider now ...

The bridge at MP 64.1X is shaping up ...

Here is a view down at bridge 65.1 from an excavator operator's perspective ...

This is a retaining wall near the end of the project ...

A culvert widening at MP 68.2 ...

And the signal bridge at Keenbrook ...

Warren

[Modelcar]

...One couldn't ask for nicer group of photos of the construction project....Great composition on photos and such clarity.

So I give my thanks to Warren for taking the time to record them and post as well.

[K. P. Harrier]

Several weeks ago a TWO track cantilever signal bridge (for tracks 1 and 2) was installed at the west end of "Cajon."  A ONE track cantilever signal bridge was on the ground near the east end, and presumably for the west end to control the yet to be put down track 3.  This past week, the new overhead TWO track signal bridge at the west end was taken down, and a THREE track signal bridge replacement erected!

[Warren Smith]

Here's a shot with both tunnels visible ...

Here's an eastbound heading out of tunnel 1 with Summit in the distance ...

The slope at tunnel 2 is down to track level - soon will be shoofly time ...

The bridge at MP 65.15 is ready for concrete at the abutments ...

Warren

[JSGreen]

Warren...

I've been following and enjoying this thread from the start, and appreciate all the great photos you have taken the time to post.  What a great opportunity for a rail fan, to be able to work on a project like that!

I Just wanted to comment on the "Orphan" Tunnel portal in picture 3...kind of sums up the whole project, in an amusing sort of way!

 

Thanks again for the great posts...

 

[Modelcar]

...Warren, I too really appreciate to see the construction photos and allowing us, located at different areas to "see" how this project is really coming along.

Such beautiful track visible in most of your shots makes one realize this is railroading at the highest level.  I suppose literally too.

So hear my thanks Warren, for taking the time to share the sites for us whom are interested, with your great photos.

[sgtbean1]

These projects are fascinating to follow. It really shows what man can do if he puts his mind to it. Great stuff!! Thanks to Warren for taking the time and effort to visualize and clarify the work and progress on the project. Big .

[Nataraj]

Warren,

Thanks for posting the photos!

[calpoly48]

excellent coverage, thanks for sharing!

[K. P. Harrier]

Photos taken February 25, 2008

Summit

Silverwood

 

Cajon CP

 

Bridge RXR West of Cajon CP 

[K. P. Harrier]

 

Daggett update:

 

Daggett, looking west.  From left to right, new Track 3, old Tracks 2 and 1, and UP Track 1.

 

Daggett, looking east.  UP Track 1 absolute signal.

 

Daggett, looking at UP junction signal arrangement.

 

Daggett, looking at east BNSF junction signals.

 

West Daggett.  Absolute signals:  Far left poled eastbound Track 1 signal, plus westbound UP Track 1 and BNSF Track 1 (on signal bridge from left to right).  Intermediate signals on signal bridge:  Tracks 2 and 3, both directions

[Modelcar]

......Enjoyed the new update photos.

[jeaton]

I see the tracks and the signals.  Are there any trains?

[croteaudd]

That West Daggett photo a few posts above shows what some railroaders feel is a safety hazard.  Because one double-unit eastbound signal is on a pole mast, and the other two two-unit eastbound signals are on the signal bridge a few hundred feet away, and the tracks to the left and outside the photo are on a sweeping curve, crews on eastbound nighttime trains see the mast signal lights appear to move across the tracks.  Signals that move from one side of the tracks to the other side are subject to misinterpretation.  The railroad may want to change that arrangement, and erect a new cantilevered signal bridge in place of the poled signal and put all eastbound signals visually in a row side by side.  In that way, West Daggett signals would never appear to change positions, and thus would never be subject to misinterpretation.

[JSGreen]

isn't part of the reason for having to qualify on routes as a crew member...to be able to recognize these type of idosyncracies?  Not that you would remember every detail at the end of a long day or hectic week...

It has been said that even though the approach to San Diego Lindberg field is extremely dangerous because it passed through the downtown areas, often at building top level, that there are fewer incidences on approach because of its reputation, the pilots are extra attentive on this approach.   

[croteaudd]

JSGreen:

You make very valid points above about qualified crews know their territory’s idiosyncrasies.

While I recognized the West Daggett situation nearly 15 years ago way before the third track was laid, it was a railroad engineer friend that has run trains all over California that recently reintroduced me to the West Daggett illusion problem.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on the February 21, 2004 collision between two Union Pacific trains at Carrizozo, New Mexico is enlightening.  In that collision, the engineer spent most of the day awake, and retired for the evening expecting to be called the next morning.  Instead, he was called only a few hours later.  Subsequently, he fell asleep at the throttle, and died there also at collision time.  His conductor apparently was also asleep and likewise succumbed in terrible violence.

So, unlike the relatively rested and alert pilots flying into the very dangerous San Diego Lindberg field, train crews can be called at all hours, and may have to show up for duty while exhausted.  In that impaired state, I feel that ‘the signal that walks across tracks’ at West Daggett could easily be misinterpreted, and if the conditions are right, a disastrous collision could occur.

It is interesting that K. P. Harrier in this topic tread mention a newly installed two-track cantilevered signal at Cajon was taken down, and replaced by a three-track signal bridge.  I conjecture that it was to avoid the very problem that exists at West Daggett.

 

Several weeks ago a TWO track cantilever signal bridge (for tracks 1 and 2) was installed at the west end of "Cajon."  A ONE track cantilever signal bridge was on the ground near the east end, and presumably for the west end to control the yet to be put down track 3.  This past week, the new overhead TWO track signal bridge at the west end was taken down, and a THREE track signal bridge replacement erected!

[Bruce Kelly]

The map in the April Trains shows the "third track alignment" being along the north side of the existing Main 1 the entire way, or in other words between the existing Main 1 and the former SP Palmdale line. This is actually not the case in some critical areas where conditions prevented BNSF from laying new track on the north side of Main 1. The BNSF track chart, and the many photos that have been posted here and on other forums, show that the new track is being laid on the SOUTH side of the existing Main 2 approaching the Cajon crossovers, then along the SOUTH side of the existing Main 1 through Sullivan's Curve and the Mormon Rocks. It jumps back to the north side of the existing Main 1 in the vicinity of the I-15 overpass. One of the biggest challenges of this project will be when all the new track is laid in place and they hold up traffic for the better part of a day in order to shift the ends of those three tracks into alignment at the locations where the newly-laid main had to jump from one side of the existing main(s) to the other. As for geography, BNSF does not go through or over the San Bernardino Mountains. Cajon lies in a break between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains.

[chad thomas]

Shure would be nice to be there when the line reopens...talk about opening the floodgates.